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  4. Calochilus herbaceus

Calochilus herbaceus

Spirits Bay Road, Te Paki.<br>Photographer: Bill Campbell, Date taken: 19/10/2013, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Flower bud at anthesis. Albany, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 26/10/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
In gumland scrub. Albany, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 01/11/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Lake Ohia.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 29/10/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
In gumland scrub. Albany, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 26/10/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
In gumland scrub. Albany, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 26/10/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
In gumland scrub. Nov 2008.<br>Photographer: Kevin Matthews, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.
Calochilus herbaceus close up of flower, Maitahi, near Dargaville.<br>Photographer: Alastair Jamieson, Licence: All rights reserved.
Calochilus herbaceus plant in gumland scrub, Maitahi, near Dargaville.<br>Photographer: Alastair Jamieson, Licence: All rights reserved.
Calochilus herbaceus plant in gumland scrub, Maitahi, near Dargaville.<br>Photographer: Alastair Jamieson, Licence: All rights reserved.
Calochilus herbaceus in flower in gumland scrub, Maitahi, near Dargaville.<br>Photographer: Alastair Jamieson, Licence: All rights reserved.
Flower bud at anthesis. Albany, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 26/10/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Albany, Auckland.<br>Photographer: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Date taken: 26/10/2008, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0'>CC BY</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
Toanga, Far North.<br>Photographer: Kevin Matthews, Date taken: 27/10/2019, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>
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Common names

copper beard orchid

Biostatus

Native

Category

Vascular

Structural class

Orchids

Flower colours

Green, Violet/Purple

Detailed description

Stout orchid 300–700 mm tall. Stem erect, glaucous green to green, fleshy, rather stout. Leaf fleshy, linear-lanceolate, glaucous-green to dark green, channelled, sheathing at base. Cauline bracts similar but much shorter. Inflorescence a raceme of (1)–2–(5) flowers. Floral bracts narrow, acute, overtopping ovary. Perianth green, glaucous-green to bright green except for the violet lamina and red cilia of labellum. Dorsal sepal 10–15 mm long, broad-elliptic, acute, somewhat folded about column. Lateral sepals similar though smaller. Petals shorter, obliquely deltoid, apex subacute, directed toward dorsal sepal, green finely striped with red. Labellum violet, with a green apex, not much larger than sepals and petals; ligulate apex short, sinuous; disc broad with shorter, fewer processes; base bearing two, longitudinal metallic blue (rarely green) plate-like calli. Column wings with one distinct, dark gland or callus near base.

Similar taxa

Immediately distinguished from Calochilus robertsonii Benth., and C. paludosus R.Br., by the greenish-yellow flowers with red striped petals, a distinctive violet blue labellum, bearing red whisker-like cilia.

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island (formerly recorded from the Aranga Swamp near Maunganui Bluff. It is now known from a few scattered populations ranging from Te Paki south to Albany). Also Australia.

Habitat

A coastal and lowland species of open ground within gum land scrub, peat bogs, ephemeral wetlands and clay pans.

Current conservation status

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.

  • Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2023 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, SO, Sp

Jump to previous conservation statuses

Threats

Habitat loss and plant collectors are the main threats to this attractive bearded orchid.

Detailed taxonomy

Family

Orchidaceae

Authority

Calochilus herbaceus Lindl.

Synonyms

New Zealand plants have been called C. campestris R.Br. another Australian species to which C. herbaceus is allied.

Taxonomic notes

New Zealand plants and some Australian populations differ slightly from C. herbaceus sens. str. and it is thought that they probably warrant separate taxonomic recognition (D.L. Jones pers. comm.).

Endemic taxon

No

Endemic genus

No

Endemic family

No

Ecology

Flowering

October–December

Fruiting

October–February

Propagation technique

Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.

Wetland plant indicator status rating

Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

FACW: Facultative Wetland

Usually is a hydrophyte but occasionally found in uplands (non-wetlands).

Other information

Etymology

calochilus: From Greek kalos (beautiful) and cheilos (lip), referring to the attractive labellum

Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key

Key to native orchids of New Zealand

Chromosome number

2n = 22

Previous conservation statuses

The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.

  • Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

2017 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, SO, Sp

2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, SO, Sp

2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: SO, EF, Sp

2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical

Jump to current conservation status

Regional conservation statuses

Auckland: 2025 | Threatened – Regionally Critical | Qualifiers: RR, Sp, TO

The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.

Referencing and citations

References and further reading

Moore LB, Edgar E. 1970. Flora of New Zealand, Volume II. Indigenous Tracheophyta: Monocotyledones except Gramineae. Government Printer, Wellington, NZ. 354 p.

Attribution

Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970)

Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.

NZPCN Fact Sheet citation

Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Calochilus herbaceus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/calochilus-herbaceus/ (Date website was queried)

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